The Chicago Cubs have finalized their travel roster for the season-opening series in Japan.
Third baseman Matt Shaw is making the trip for the two-game Tokyo Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, manager Craig Counsell told reporters Tuesday morning in Mesa, Ariz.
Shaw’s spring training was slowed by a left oblique injury, limiting his reps. But the organization’s top prospect showed enough over the last week to warrant bringing him on the trip.
The Cubs will need to make a 40-man roster move if they want Shaw, a nonroster invitee to spring training, to be part of the 26-man active roster for the March 18 opener against the Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome.
Among the other bubble players, left-hander Jordan Wicks and right-handers Ben Brown and Brad Keller will be part of the travel roster, Counsell told reporters.
Keller, like Shaw, would need to be added to the 40-man roster in order to be active for the Dodgers games. The Cubs don’t have to make any moves official, however, until opening day.
Rule 5 draft pick Gage Workman and INF Vidal Bruján part of Chicago Cubs’ Japan roster
On the other end of the decisions, outfielder Kevin Alcántara and right-hander Keegan Thompson are staying back in Arizona. Thompson is out of minor-league options.
Without Alcántara, the Cubs won’t have a true backup in center field if Pete Crow-Armstrong is injured.
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